For the afficionado of the political genre, there is no better book than this. Barry's access was not equally granted by all the players, but he was sufficiently "in the room" and privy to frank discussion that he places the reader in the Congress during the end of a Speaker's tenure. This episode really marks the rise of Newt Gingrich, the end of Democrat control of the U.S. House, and profound changes in America. The book doesn't explain how it all came about. It does, however, live up to its title by showing how ambition and power collide. In this instance, ambition won. That Gingrich eventually suffered an ignominous political end is one of the great ironies of recent American politics.

This book is incredible in depth of research, interviews with key players in the House of Representatives, a balanced approached, and analysis. It reveals more of the inner workings of the House of Representatives than any other single source. A must read for anyone who wants to understand how the House works, and at the same time how Speaker Jim Wright lost the speakership.

Barry, who wrote for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications, was allowed unbelievable access to former Speaker of the House Jim Wright's private meetings, and also got cooperation from then-back bencher Gingrich and others of Wright's enemies. The result is an absolutely brilliant study of how power works in Washington, inside the Congress, between the Congress and the White House, the media. Well-written and provocative, this book will give you an understanding of Washington like nothing else I have ever read. Ever since it came out (in 1989), I have been waiting for Edmund Morris's Reagan biography to get the other side of the story. If only Morris had done what Barry did. But Morris failed. Barry didn't.

This book is wonderful- I have used it to entertain out of town guests and for myself and friends on a regular basis. It is a great reference for places you may have never been or to stir your memory of places you have enjoyed going to. Every place mentioned in the book has been exactly as they had written. There were no surprises, but in fact excellent suggestions of ways to truly experience the local life. I just moved to Seattle myself, so I have found the book to be quite helpful. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody new to the area or coming for a visit. Who knows... you may just run into me at one of the local hangouts...

I'm in debt to this book - I've been using its earlier edition for three years since I moved to Seattle, and it's still the first place I turn to when I want to find something new to do on a weekend. There are entries about the best lodgings, cafes, coffee places, theaters of all kinds including indie. And of course, this being a book about Pacific Northwest, it contains the most complete guide to all the places to visit around Seattle: islands, mountains, places to ski and hike and bike. Whether you live in Seattle or you're just visiting, you will not do better than choosing this book to help you explore this beautiful city. I know I wouldn't have enjoyed my time here nearly as much without it.

Planning our vacation in and around Seattle was going to be interesting since I had never been there and had no tips and referances to go by. I searched on Amazon.com, and found some interesting books with lot's of tips. I chose the Best Places in Seattle book and once I had received it I fall in love with it. It is very detailed and informative and thanks to this book,I had hotel rooms booked and wonderful ideas of how we were going to spoil ourselfs with fantastic food in wonderful restaurants and of course all the highlights of Seattle were well explained in the book as well. Once we got there it was easy.. the book offeres a map,of the loctions of the hotel and palces to go and really it was a breeze for us to find our way around and let me tell you, the hotels were no dissapointment and the restaurants wonderful. I recommend this book to everyone. The author really wrote it as it is and the star rating of the hotels and more are really fantastic and a big help.She also makes a point to inform you of small details , for example, if the hotel has AC or not or if the service is nice and which floor offers the better view and such. That really is important for some people I am sure. This book helped us a lot to enjoy a wonderful vacation and we will be back. Enjoy Seattle and with this book you will.

At the age of twenty-five, David Baum was diagnosed with AIDS. Now he's a Washington, D.C. architect, he has a lover named Rich, he is acrid and honest and painfully blunt ... and he is dying. This is his story, the chronicle of his last four years on earth and his struggle to survive his work, his relationships, and his life.

By the time I reached the end of BORROWED LIGHT (which I did unfortunately far into the night), I was sobbing. Seldom have I encountered a book more emotionally devastating. Forget THE LOVELY BONES -- BORROWED LIGHT is neither sappy nor weak, the details are incredibly real, the prose is sheer poetry, and the result is amazing. In fact, by the time I reached the middle sections I had forgotten it was a novel; I read every word with the understanding it really happened. Although initially I found I had to take the story in small doses -- over a period of two days as opposed to my usual book-a-night orgy -- by the time I reached the end I was both shattered and incredibly impressed.

BORROWED LIGHT delivers everything it promises. I could not recommend it more highly.

Lisa Schamess' first novel draws the reader in with lucid prose that verges on the poetic--and avoids that pretentious mush of self-conscious stream-of-consciousness from which many books suffer. In other words, it's both a good read and art. The book will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers who liked The Lovely Bones will enjoy it, and anyone who lived in a big city in the mid-1980s will appreciate the social milieu Schamess describes.

Read This Book! I was so happy to discover this book. Lisa Schamess's writing is haunting, imaginative and always lush. She comes at her first novel with a firmly established, clear voice. Thank you! At first I wasn't sure I would be interested in the subject: Dying, AIDS, gay male architect. I check the "none-of-the-above" box when it comes to describing MY life. But a great author, as Schamess surely is, takes A life and makes it THE universal life. I can't wait for her next book!

Whether you are a climber, a hiker, a car traveler, or just an armchair explorer, the Beckey guides are the indispensible resources for your mountain experience. The three volumes are filled with information about the natural and human history of the Washington Cascades, as well as complete route and access data for every significant summit. The photos alone are reason enough to own these books. If you are interested in really "knowing" the Washington Cascades, you MUST have them in your library. Highest possible recommendation.

The series of books by Beckey on climbing and high routes in the cascades gives the most comprehensive and complete presentation of cascades. Each peak is described with great detail and the photos and pictures are great. This is truly a great guide!

I have used this Guidebook so many times in the past 12 years that I've had to purchase it three times. The definitive section on the Picket Range alone is worth the price of the book.

For those who want to experience the North Cascades as they were in the 30's and 40's, reading the "Trails and Alpine Hiking Approaches" section will steer you in the right direction. This book is rife with golden kernels of information found nowhere else. Any serious climber should have all three of the Cascade Alpine Guide books.

Mike Quinn

The absolutely facinating lives of two women who devoted their lives to serving the presidents and their families. It's not exactly a weekend read, but well worth your time. I mean, how else would you find out one of our distiinguished presidents got stuck in the bathtub? Wish the television mini-series was available on video or DVD.

This book is a fascinating look at the people who are a integral part of the White House-- the staff and the occupants. Based on the lives of Lilian Rogers Parks and her daughter, it presents the everyday happenings in this historical house from the viewpoint of the staff. This historical novel is filled with personal memories, touching stories, humorous quips, and some sad moments. After enjoying it, the reader will feel as if they have spent time in the White House themselves.

I have read this book many times. The historical content never ceases to amaze me. It is almost like being there. I never tire of reading this intimate picture of Maggie and Lillian's years at the White House. Wish there was a sequel.

This is an unforgettable history of Mt. Rainier, its pioneering and more recent explorers of trails to the summit, its geology and natural environment, and its inevitable human disasters. Molenaar's many explanatory sketches of climbing routes and his inclusion of numerous historic photos of famed climbers, guides, and ascents help immensely to illustrate the absorbing text. As one who is intimately familiar both as a guide, an artist, a scientist, and a world-famous mountaineer, he is uniquely fitted to write this story--one which anyone contemplating an ascent of "the mountain" could hardly do without--and he has succeeded beyond measure.

Dee Molenaar eschews the glib, self-serving, and obnoxious style so prevalent in this genre. Instead, Molenaar presents a chronicle of human history on "The Mountain" that is well written, informative, and self-effacing. He barely touches his own remarkably impressive mountaineering achievements and I am hopeful he publishes his memoirs soon. Further, it is a pleasure to read a writing style reflecting a generation which held manners and chivalry with esteem. Indeed, there is an element of anachronism in this revised edition, and it is worth preserving. I am honored that my copy is signed by the author!

Molenaar makes a detailed records analysis of the many accidents that have occurred on this massive mountain. For example, the guy who slid a thousand feet in his down booties trying to catch a lid that fell off of his cooking pot. Weird! Also, he details the tragedies with thoughtful suggestions. Our team studied this book before our climb so we would be aware of climbing errors that others have made. I think this is pretty much considered a Rainier classic by now...

This is one of my favorite books ever. Really. I moved to the D.C. area with my lab three years ago, and while we were used to having dozens of places to go for various reasons or times, I didn't know where to begin to find good places to take her around our new home. This book was a godsend for finding fun places to go, especially because I found the reviews to give a me a very accurate idea of what sort of place we were going, including what sort of "feel" it might have for dog-friendliness. Some of the features of the book I have found extremely helpful are:

* Birds-eye maps showing where the reviewed locations are in the counties covered (perfect for finding a park near odd places that I might run errands)
* How strict the leash law is followed (this is a biggie for me -- while the authors point out excellent reasons to use the leash, they very helpfully suggest where we can get away without it)
* Rough idea how crowded the area in question might be, and how easy or difficult to get to (varies of course by time of day and season)
* Whether there's a place for doggie swimming

In my area (Sterling/Ashburn, VA) I've found the book to be amazingly comprehensive for my local and outlying areas, and find that the park descriptions have always given me a pretty accurate idea what to expect. The book covers a wide enough range (including some pseudo-local vacation destinations) that I've used it on countless occasions to find nice stopover while on short trips outside my "home turf". Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys finding varied places to visit with their pups.

I bought this book when it first came out for a friend of mine who was moving to Baltimore with her dog. Two years later, I borrowed it from her when I discovered I was moving to D.C. I found it enormously usefull for choosing a dog-friendly neighborhood with good access to parks. The authors understand the basic qualities of a good dog park: safety, space, a group of 'regular' neighborhood go-ers, and access to a good espresso bar for weekend dog walking. Overall, the writers do an excelent job.

I have only a few complaints. One - due to the impossibility of visiting every park in this populous region more than once, I've found that the park's ratings can heavily reflect the day and time of the visit -- not necessarily what the park is like on a typical weekday at 6pm. Also, some park ratings reflect a nice place to go with a small dog on a leash, you won't necessarily have the same experience with your massive Great Dane tugging at every new smell. The writers also disapprove of dogs being off-leash, and rate more lowly some parks that are true jems for those of us with larger dogs that require more exercise.

Overall, a great guide, and certainly unique. A must for all dog owners in this area, particularly if you moving to this region.

I highly recommend this book to dog owners who love to take their little four-legged friend(s) everywhere. It is well organized and the writing style used is perfect for dog lovers.

It covers almost all the parks in the Washington D.C., Virginia and Baltimore. Have you ever looked up a park on a map and it looked huge and perfect for your dog, and when you got there, you and your dog were very disappointing with the park? Well, the review for each park is quite accurate. With this book on hand, you can look up a park and find out if it is suitable for your dog before driving there. It covers important information that a dog owner needs to know about the park/area - such as the poop scoop law and the leash law.

It also contains information (ie. hotel, restaurant, pet stores, etc...) that is very useful for dog owners who like to take their pooches on vacation with them.

Embedded into the book, you will find dog adoption information. The book encourages suggestions from readers. I've already written to the publisher suggesting to include information on various rescue organizations and local animal shelters - a way to help promote pet rescue/adoption.

I was pleasantly surprised by Educating Waverley. I took it out of the library without knowing anything about it, because I was in the mood for something light and diverting, which it appeared to be, and I was totally engrossed by it. It's an old-fashioned novel, in the best sense of the term: well-crafted, with a strong sense of place, and a large cast of quirky, interesting, fully realized characters.

The author's craft shows in the way she juggles chronology by having the story jump back and forth in time from the early 20th century to the present day. In less skillful hands, this could have been confusing, but it isn't. Instead, the effect is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle: first one corner of the picture becomes clear, then another, until finally the last piece snaps into place with a satisfying click, and you see the whole picture in front of you.

The locations in the book are described so vividly that -- even though I've never been to the Pacific Northwest -- I now feel I know what it's like to live on a small island in Puget Sound.

But mostly, it's the characters who make Educating Waverley memorable. There are heroines in the book, there are villains, there are a lot of imperfect people making their way through life the best they can -- and every one of them is brought fully to life.

Oh, by the way -- did I mention it's funny?

Educating Waverley may have been the first Laura Kalpakian novel I read, but it won't be the last.

i picked up a publisher's copy of this book, knowing nothing about it. (it literally had a blank cover) what a joy! funny, inspiring, masterfully well-written and meaningful on many different levels...i could keep this up, but your time will be better rewarded by reading this treasure. i actually feel lucky for having happened to stumble upon this book - it is one of those very rare ones that truly 'changes your life.' how much? well, to start with, i've never before felt motivated to post something on the web!

Ms. Kalpakian has tremendous talent; the story flows, the characters are interesting and there are always some surprises.

Fodor's Washington D.C. Citypack is worth the money spent. When I needed research information on the Capitol for my next novel, I stumbled across this book online. I love it. There are surely books that contain more information, but for the purpose it serves, Fodor's is excellent.

Physically, it's small, thin, lightweight, colorful, and laminated. This allows it to be carried in pocket or purse and used repeatedly at a moment's notice--not as a desk-bound reference tome. The laminated cover makes it durable. Feels cool too. The inside covers are a decent map of the key tourist spots, which is a nice supplement to the larger and more thorough pull-out map provided.

The text is divided into color-keyed sections that list a brief history of the city, plus good tips on how-to, where-to, when- o, and why-to visit the choice locations, such as monuments, museums, gardens, restaurants, or entertainment hotspots. The text is clear and concise. I would pick up a Fodor's Travel Guide to any major city I visited without hesitation. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

If you are a mad tourist like me who wants to pack in all the signature sites of a destination, this book is the best guide you'll find.

It gives you essential information on the top 25 things to do / see as well as a further list of additional interesting places / things. There are shopping / eating / entertainment recommendations too.

The information is concise and makes planning your holiday as easy as 1, 2, 3!!!

Also, fits nicely into your handbag or jacket pocket and doesn't weigh you down!!

We toured D.C. with this citypack are can't imagine how others do not! The top 25 list helps organize what's best to see and do with a little historical background and info. for each destination/activity. There are sample walks and itineraries, as well as a detailed up-to-date city map.

Oh my goodness, for [the price], you cannot beat these lightweight and extremely handy guides.

Yes, I know of no other book guide to Seattle's ethnic food culture. Considering how important a food town this is, it's really a shame this book wasn't written sooner. But, it's here & it's very good. I agree w. almost all of Ms. Calcott's food recommendations.

My quarrels are w. what is left out. What happened to ethnic restaurants?? I know there are many of them & it would've added to the size of the book & the time it took to research it. But a food guide that leaves out restaurants has left out something very important.

Richard

I am a dislocated Appalachian that took the food bull of Seattle by the horns, but that was before this book. Now I am sure I will be THE Seattle epicure-genius among my circle with this book tucked into my collection. I am amazed by the variety of food resources, from chocolatiers to ethnic markets, where to get the greatest baguettes. I also love the anecdotal sections on the pioneers/owners of some of these purveyors. Oh, and recipes! There is humor, knowledge, pleasure, and respect written here, and a love for Seattle and the food treasures it offers. Buy it.

The book is delightful to read. I am not from the Seattle but it makes me want to visit, just to hang out in places like James Cook Ltd for cheese or Gelatiamo for ice cream or Il Fornaio for bread. It provides great inside information on the 'in' places to go to. Miss Calcott is a food connoisseur. I can relate when she says she dreams about food. My imagination often takes me to enchanting places like Florence and Paris and thoughts of fabulous food are never far behind. The anecdotes that precede each section are interesting. Well done!